Starting XI: Tickets Punched

Starting XI, presented by Ford, is a biweekly series on SportingKC.com that highlights 11 of the biggest storylines and news updates from Sporting Kansas City, MLS and soccer around the globe. Click here to visit the Starting XI archive.

Sporting KC clinched a club-record seventh straight playoff berth following a scoreless draw against the Houston Dynamo on Sunday night at Children’s Mercy Park. The result propels Sporting KC into the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs with one game to spare in the regular season. Manager Peter Vermes’ men have advanced to the postseason every year since 2011, good for the third-longest active playoff streak in Major League Soccer behind Seattle Sounders FC (2009) and the New York Red Bulls (2010).

Sporting KC enters the final day of the 2017 MLS regular season occupying fourth place in the Western Conference, with 11 matches set to kick off concurrently next Sunday at 3 p.m. CT. The all-important Decision Day slate is highlighted by Sporting KC’s visit to Real Salt Lake, broadcast live on FOX Sports Kansas City and FOX Sports Midwest.

2. Seeding Scenarios

With a pivotal slate of regular season finales set for 3 p.m. CT Sunday, Sporting Kansas City has already secured its spot in the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs. But with seeding — not to mention a sixth and final postseason berth — up for grabs on Decision Day, it’s still very unclear where Manager Peter Vermes’ men will end up in the logjam. Anywhere between second place (and a knockout-round bye) and fifth place (starting on the road in the knockout round) is still a possibility.

Click here for the full list of Sporting KC’s seeding scenarios entering Decision Day.

3. Peter the Great

The only man to win an MLS Cup as a player and a coach with the same team was the first to reach another historic milestone on Sunday night. Sporting KC’s 0-0 home draw with the Houston Dynamo was enough for the club to secure a seventh straight berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs. Each of the last seven postseason appearances have come under the tutelage of Peter Vermes, who made seven playoff trips as a player from 1996-2002 before taking the helm at Sporting KC in August 2009.

The MLS Cup champion and three-time U.S. Open Cup winner now has another feather in his cap, as he becomes the first person in MLS history to make at least seven playoff appearances as both a player and a coach. In addition, his 14 combined years in the MLS Cup Playoffs as either a player or head coach ties the league record.

4. Drogba’s Back

The Swope Park Rangers will host African soccer icon Didier Drogba and Phoenix Rising FC in the USL Western Conference Quarterfinals on Saturday at Swope Soccer Village. Kickoff at Children's Mercy Victory Field is set for 7:30 p.m. CT and tickets are available via SeatGeek.com. Led by head coach Nikola Popovic, the reigning USL Western Conference champion Rangers finished the regular season in fourth place for a second straight year. SPR finished as USL Cup runners-up in their inaugural 2016 campaign.

5. Five Stars

On the same day their senior teams squared off in the penultimate round of the 2017 MLS regular season at Children's Mercy Park, the Sporting KC and Houston Dynamo academies met for a tripleheader Sunday at Swope Soccer Village The Sporting KC U-19s effectively stole the headlines, using goals from five different players to post an emphatic 5-0 victory and return to winning ways after dropping their previous two matches.

6. That’s the Weah

The United States U-17 Men's National Team delivered a five-star performance on Monday, defeating Paraguay 5-0 to advance to the FIFA U-17 World Cup quarterfinals. Tim Weah bagged a superb hat-trick while captain Josh Sargent and Andrew Carleton scored goals of their own as the Americans cruised to victory in the Round of 16 at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi, India.

Sporting KC homegrown signing Jaylin Lindsey was an unused substitute Monday after starting each of the USA's three group stage matches, which included a pair of shutout wins against India and Ghana, respectively. Meeting the United States in Saturday's quarterfinal will be the winner of Tuesday's match between England and Japan. The quarterfinal contest will kick off at 9:30 a.m. CT in Goa, India, airing live on FS2 and Telemundo.

7. Culture Crew

This week only, supporters can enter online to win a Sporting KC Culture Crew sweatshirt. The unique enter-to-win opportunity will remain open through Friday at 4 p.m. CT at SportingKC.com/fallgiveaway.

To shop from a complete collection of Sporting KC gear, visit MLSstore.com or head to the SportingStyle Pop-In Store, located at the Boulevard Members Club inside Children's Mercy Park (10 a.m. - 6 p.m. CT, Monday through Saturday). Supporters may also email or call the Personal Shopper at jenna@sportingkc.com or 913-912-7563.

8. Melia's the Man

Sporting KC unveiled the club’s 2017 awards on Friday night at Children’s Mercy Park during Pitch Black, presented by Jaguar and Land Rover of Merriam and Aristocrat Motors. Votes from Sporting KC players, media members and supporters determined the following award winners:

• Most Valuable Player, presented by Jaguar and Land Rover of Merriam: Tim Melia
• Offensive Player of the Year, presented by Ivy Investments: Gerso
• Defensive Player of the Year, presented by Firedoor Solutions: Ike Opara
• Newcomer of the Year: Ilie
• Goal of the Year, presented by Rosnet: Ike Opara

9. Up for Honors

Award season is upon us in MLS. Players, technical staffers and a select group of national and regional media will begin voting for each of the awards on Tuesday. Sporting KC trio Matt Besler, Tim Melia and Ike Opara are on the 53-man ballot for 2017 Landon Donovan MLS MVP, while Ilie and Gerso are on the 38-man ballot for MLS Newcomer of the Year.

10. Decision Day Whip-around

Sporting KC's visit to Real Salt Lake is one of 11 MLS matches that will kick off simultaneously as part of a dramatic Decision Day slate. Beginning at 3 p.m. CT, ESPN will air live whip-around coverage of every game, capturing all goals and playoff developments on the last day of the regular season.

11. Europe's Finest

The UEFA Champions League group stage rolls onward Tuesday and Wednesday with an excellent batch of matches in Europe's most prestigious club competition. Tuesday afternoon, Harry Kane and Tottenham visit back-to-back defending champion Cristiano Ronaldo and Real Madrid, while high-flying Manchester City hosts Italian title contenders Napoli. On Wednesday, Premier League title holders Chelsea welcome Roma and Jose Mourinho's Manchester United visit Benfica. See below for a TV schedule of this week's biggest matches.

Games to Watch (Oct. 17-19)